Hat with an improved sweat band

ABSTRACT

A hat is provided having a crown member made of stretchable uniform fabric material and a sweat band connected along the lower edge of the interior surface of the crown member. The sweat band is formed of a single sheet of fabric material wrapped over a single sheet of padding material. The single sheet of fabric material does not completely enclose the sheet of padding material, and a portion of the sheet of padding material must be exposed along the circumference of the sweat band.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] I. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to headwear. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable size hat having a sweat band with improved sweat evaporation capability.

[0003] II. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Most hats have a hemispherical crown member, a brim, and a sweat band. Hats can come either in a particular predetermined size or with an adjustment means in order to accommodate heads of different sizes.

[0005] The hats which come in a predetermined size can be expensive for a retailer who has to stock various sizes of the same styles of hat. Thus, hats having adjustment means are desired by retailers. However, hats having adjustment means are disadvantageous to many in terms of style because a semicircular open area is must be made to form a gap in the back of the crown member. For adjustment, a strap is connected to each edge of the semicircle forming the gap on the crown member, and the straps can be attached using snap means or VELCRO hook and loop fastener means.

[0006] To overcome the need for forming a gap on the crown member, adjustable hats that stretch have been developed. Such hats that stretch cover a much less range of head sizes that the hats having a semicircular gap, however, they still have utility in covering two to three different head sizes. One such hat is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,850 issued to Han. Han teaches a hat which has a sweat band, formed of a single unfolded sheet of fabric material, connected to the lower edge of the crown member. The circumference of the sweat band at the edge connecting to the crown member is larger than the circumference of the opposing edge. Furthermore, the sweat band stretches only in the direction perpendicular to the edges. Another adjustable hat having no gap in the back of the crown member is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,540 issued to Cho. In Cho, the hat has a crown member which stretches only in the peripheral direction, and a uniaxially stretchable sweat band formed of a single unfolded structure which connects to the lower edge of the crown member.

[0007] The hats taught in Han and Cho, serves its purpose in adjusting to head sizes; however, the sweat band in each type of hat is lacking in terms of its ability to absorb moisture. There are other types of sweat bands in the prior art utilized on hats. In addition to the ones discussed, there are sweat bands which is a single sheet of fabric material which is folded to form a single band structure. Some of the sweat bands having a folded structure contain a moisture absorbing padding element within the folded structure. However, there is a disadvantage in completely covering the padding element within the folded structure because any sweat which may be absorbed within may be slow to evaporate.

[0008] None of the prior art teaches the novel features of the hat as taught in the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable size hat which has no gap formed on the back side of the crown member which can fit a predetermined number of head sizes. Another objective is to provide such an adjustable hat having a sweat band with improved sweat evaporation capability. Another objective is to provide a hat with the features discussed which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0010] The present invention provides a hat having a crown member made of stretchable uniform fabric material. A sweat band is connected along the lower edge of the interior surface of the crown member. The sweat band is formed by wrapping a single sheet of fabric material over a single sheet of padding material. The single sheet of fabric material must not completely enclose the sheet of padding material. A portion of the sheet of padding material must be exposed along the circumference of the sweat band. In this manner, the moisture from sweat which may be accumulated on the padding material can have improved evaporation capability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0011] With the above and additional objects and advantages in view, as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described, by way of example, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the cap according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the cap according to the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 3 is an isolated view of the sweat band of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 4 is an isolated view of the sweat band of the present invention exposing the inner padding material;

[0016]FIG. 4A is an isolated cross-sectional view of the sweat band cut along the 4A-4A line of FIG. 3; and,

[0017]FIG. 5 is an isolated view of the sweat band being stretched both in the horizontal and vertical directions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018]FIGS. 1 and 2 shows the hat 10 of the present invention having a substantially hemispherical crown member 15 with an exterior surface 18, interior surface 20, a front portion 22, and a circumferential lower edge 24. The crown member 15 is made of a uniform fabric material which stretches both circumferentially and diagonally to comfortably fit the head of various head sizes.

[0019] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, a sweat band 19 is connected along the lower edge 24 of the interior surface 20 of the crown member 15. The sweat band 19 forms a closed loop as it attaches along the lower edge 24 of the crown member 15. The sweat band 19 comprises a single sheet of stretchable fabric material 26 having a first edge 25 and a second edge 27. The sheet of fabric material 26 is wrapped over a single sheet of expandable padding material 30 having a front side 33 and a back side 35. The sheet of fabric material 26 is stitched to the padding material 30 so that the front side 33 of the padding material 30 is completely covered but a portion of the back side 35 of the padding material 30 remains exposed as the first edge 25 and second edge 27 remain detached from the padding material 30. In the preferred embodiment, a portion of the padding material 30 is exposed in a strip which extends circumferentially around the sweat band 19. The side of the sweat band 19 having the exposed portion of the padding material lies inwardly facing the interior surface 20 of the crown member 15. The sheet of fabric material 26 and the padding material 30 are both stretchable so that the sweat band 19 can stretch in both the horizontal and vertical directions as shown in FIG. 5.

[0020] In an embodiment, the padding material is of a foam-like fabric. The padding material in the alternative can be of a sponge-like fabric.

[0021] The hat 10 can further comprises a brim 37 extending from the front portion of said crown member 15.

[0022] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated for purposes of clarity and example, it should be understood that many changes, substitutions and modifications to the described embodiment will be apparent to those having skill in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention which is defined by the claims which follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hat comprising: a crown member having exterior and interior surfaces, a front portion, and a circumferential lower edge; a sweat band connected circumferentially along the lower edge of said crown member, said sweatband comprising a single sheet of stretchable fabric material folded over a single sheet of expandable padding material, said sweat band being stretchable in both the horizontal and vertical directions.
 2. A hat as described in claim 1 wherein said padding material is made of foam-like fabric material.
 3. A hat as described in claim 1 wherein said single sheet of fabric material has a first edge and a second edge, said fabric material being folded over and stitched onto said padding material in a manner allowing the first edge and second edge to remain loose and unattached to the padding material and allowing a portion of the padding material to remain exposed.
 4. A hat as described in claim 3 wherein a portion of the padding material is exposed in a strip which extends circumferentially around the sweat band.
 5. A hat as described in claim 1 further comprising a brim extending from said front portion of said crown member.
 6. A hat as described in claim 1 wherein the material forming the crown portion allows the crown to stretch both circumferentially and diagonally.
 7. A hat comprising: a hemispherical crown member having exterior and interior surfaces, a front portion, and a circumferential lower edge; a sweat band connected circumferentially along the lower edge of the interior surface of said crown member, said sweatband comprising a single sheet of stretchable fabric material having a first edge and a second edge, said sheet of fabric material being folded over a single sheet of expandable padding material having a front side and a back side, said sheet of fabric material being stitched to said padding material so that the front side of the padding material is completely covered but a portion of the back side of the padding material remains exposed as said first edge and second edge remain detached from said padding material; and, said sweat band being stretchable in both the horizontal and vertical directions.
 8. A hat as described in claim 7 wherein said padding material is made of foam-like fabric material.
 9. A hat as described in claim 7 further comprising a brim extending from said front portion of said crown member.
 10. A hat as described in claim 7 wherein the material forming the crown portion allows the crown to stretch both circumferentially and diagonally.
 11. A hat as described in claim 7 wherein a portion of the padding material is exposed in a strip which extends circumferentially around the sweat band. 